Can the country’s biggest domestic violence transitional housing provider, Urban Resource Institute (URI), create a shelter-to-workforce pipeline in New York City?

The organization rolled out an Economic Empowerment Program (EEP) in the Big Apple in 2018, which now serves 24 shelters. More than 90% of participants are Black and Brown women. Olga Loaiza, who directs career exploration in the program, says helping shelter residents find employment often starts at the ground level with addressing résume gaps and running credit checks. Many also needed childcare to begin or return to working.

“In my department, our goal is to not only provide [safe] shelter placement for our clients, but also to provide empowerment,” said Loaiza. “We want the participant that comes to EEP to feel empowered s

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